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EU to Send Mission to Georgia to Investigate Election Fraud Allegations
The European Union will send a mission to Georgia to investigate allegations of fraud in the country's October 26 parliamentary elections, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell announced after the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on November 18.
Borrell confirmed that the head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Georgia would also be invited to present an assessment of the election irregularities. "We will discuss the irregularities, and the election will have to be investigated," Borrell said, emphasizing the need for decisive changes from the Georgian government.
Borrell described the conduct of the elections as evidence of Georgia's "democratic backsliding" and accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of steering the country away from its European Union aspirations. "Georgia cannot move forward in its relationship with the European Union [and] will not be able to advance into the European path without strong changes," he warned.
In his remarks, Borrell reassured the Georgian people of the EU's commitment to their aspirations for integration. However, he criticized the Georgian government's actions, stating, "The door of the European Union will remain open for Georgia, but the course of the government of Georgia... is turning Georgia away from its European Union integration path."
Kobakhidze: Weakening Opposition Essential for Georgia's Growth
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, speaking at a government meeting on November 18, emphasized the need to further diminish the influence of the "radical opposition".
"The radical opposition is in a very difficult situation, and this is worsening by the day," Kobakhidze said. "It is important for the country's unhindered development that these processes continue in this direction."
Kobakhidze further claimed that periods of stronger opposition had coincided with weaker national positions. "Weakening the radical opposition is essential to strengthening the country and ensuring its progress in the right direction," he asserted.
His rhetoric intensified as he described opposition leaders as "evil forces" and "people without a motherland". "Their state is so dire that, under different circumstances, we might pity them. But their actions leave no space for sympathy," he added.
